
Pop Culture Parenting Episode 118: The Sound of Music & how to play
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Oct 6, 2025 Discover how play shapes child development and emotional well-being. The hosts dive into why it can be tough for parents to engage in play, exploring barriers like energy and lost habits. Learn about child-led play techniques and the importance of mirroring emotions. They highlight imaginative play as a rehearsal for real-life challenges and discuss therapeutic applications. Plus, there's a fascinating link to The Sound of Music, showing how playful approaches can transform family dynamics. Practical tips for making playtime count are a must-listen!
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Play Builds Core Social-Emotional Skills
- Play is a primary way children learn social, emotional and regulatory skills across development.
- Free, child-led play teaches failure tolerance, communication, empathy and problem-solving.
Play Starts Before Birth
- Playful interaction begins very early: prenatal sound and touch shape later soothing and familiarity.
- Simple routines like songs heard in utero can calm newborns after birth.
Let The Child Lead, You Shadow
- Get out of the way and let the child lead during play while you observe and hypothesize aloud.
- Ask open questions, mirror their actions, and be a shadow who scaffolds rather than takes over.



